IMPACT REPORT 2015
The First Tee of Central Arkansas
Our Mission To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.
“I took my special needs class to [The First Tee of Central Arkansas] and we had a
What We Do
wonderful time! Very
The First Tee was created to introduce young people from all walks of life to the fun and excitement of golf. Through golf, participants learn personal and social skills such as respect for rules and other players, integrity and sportsmanship, as well as the value of self-reliance, self-control and the ability to set goals and work persistently to realize them. The Life Skills Experience ultimately strives to instill in participants the Nine Core Values of The First Tee: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Courtesy, Judgment, Confidence, Responsibility and Perseverance.
patient and [the staff]
From left, Chloe White, Ava White, Miranda Palacios, & Coach Monica Blake
adapted to meet the children’s needs! What a blessing!” - Ashley Washam
Our Mission
What We Do
2015 Impact
How We Are Funded
How You Can Help
Our Programming
Looking Ahead … 2016
Celebrating 15 Years in Central Arkansas
Our Partners
How We Are Funded
Swing Into Summer
Our program and facility require about $750,000 per year to operate and to continue providing local children an affordable opportunity to learn valuable skills to help them through life. We rely on the financial support of individuals, companies and foundations in our community. Private donations make up 80% of the funding we need. In addition to private donations, The First Tee of Central Arkansas is a public golf course! We are open all year and have one of the finest public facilities around.
2015 Impact In 2015, The First Tee of Central Arkansas reached more than
5,600 young people an increase of 32% over 2014.
Programming locations (golf facilities): 4 Number of counties served: 8 Number of The First Tee trained coaches: 3 Number of volunteers: 106 (including board members) Number of Life Skills Participants: 671 (1/3 of participants
are on scholarship)
Home School Class
Programming in 7 Central Arkansas schools Number of Outreach Participants: 1,597 Number of Youth Agency Partners: 22
How You Can Help $5,000 pays for 1 school to become a member of the National School Program (includes SNAG equipment for school and instructor training). $2,500 pays for annual continuing education training for 2 certified First Tee coaches.
Golfing With The Girls
$1,000 pays for 5 young people to attend a year-long (50 hours) Life Skills and Golf Skills program. $500 pays for 40 young people to attend a one-hour Outreach session. All Donations to The First Tee of Central Arkansas are Tax-Deductible Summer Camp
2015 Board of Directors Rick Blank Chad Causey Adam Crow Ted Darragh Nicole Devlin Ray Dillon Margaret Ellibee, PhD Robert Franke Randy Garcia Chad Hamlin Emily Rockwell Haney Lance Hines Joseph Hurst Michael Irvin Seth Jewell Brian Marsh Brian McRae Andrew Parker Kendra Pruitt Ernest Sanders Justin Simpson John Stewart Rod Sweetman Robert Tellez Jon Zieske
ACCESS School
Our Programming “Life Skills Experience” Participants in our “Life Skills Experience” programming become “certified” as they move from one level to the next, from a beginner’s stage to a mastery stage. The “Life Skills Experience” is designed for participants who can attend continuous class sessions during Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The levels include: TARGET – Take Aim, Anyone Can Play, Respect, Golf is a Game, Enjoy Yourself, and Try It, designed for 5 to 6 year olds PLAYer – With emphasis on the fun aspects of golf, for 7 to 9 year olds Par – A bit heavier on the life skills, typically for 9 to 11 year olds
The First Tee Nine Core Values Honesty Integrity Sportsmanship Respect Confidence Responsibility Perseverance Courtesy Judgment
Birdie – Designed with 11 to 13 year olds in mind, to prepare them for the challenges faced by many teenagers Eagle – For 13 to 15 year olds, with participants being required to help teach our younger classes Ace – Designed to prepare 15 to 17 year olds for college and the work force, with special workshops on test preparation, resume building, and giving back to one’s community “Golfing With The Girls” The girls only program is sponsored by the USGA and LPGA to encourage girls to play the game of golf. The expectation is that girls who play golf will have the confidence and skills to become tomorrow’s leaders. Outreach Through our Outreach programming we provide at-risk youth with skill sets that will help them to navigate through difficulties at school and at home. Seventy-Three percent (73%) of The First Tee participants state that they have more confidence to do well academically.
Looking Ahead … 2016!
Contact Us
“A Day At The Masters”, April 7 2016 will be the Eighth annual fundraiser celebrating the beginning of the four major PGA tournaments. “A Day At The Masters” is a two-person nine-hole Par 3 competition, that includes a Champions reception and silent auction. A twoperson team will cost $250. Tickets for the Champions reception and silent auction will be $20 per person. Sponsorships are also available. This event is taxdeductible.
The First Tee of Central Arkansas 1 First Tee Way Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 562-4653
Middle School League, March 29 - May 12 Middle School League is a unique opportunity for private school youth to gain life skills and compete at a high level. The league takes place on Tues, Wed, & Thurs. Cost is $200 per player.
Visit us on the web at www.thefirstteear.org Facebook: TheFirstTeeofArkansas Twitter: @thefirstteear
The Monk Wade Junior Classic, May 7-8 Sponsored by the ASGA Junior Golf. Please visit asga.org to learn more. PGA Drive, Chip & Putt, June 4 Sponsored by the PGA. Please visit drivechipandputt.com to learn more. Summer Camp, June 14-17; June 28-July 1; July 12-15; July 26-29; August 9-12 Dates subject to change based on school extensions for inclement weather. Each camp is Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to Noon. Cost to attend one camp is $85 for members or $125 for non-members. The First Tee Classic, October 28 2016 will be the Ninth annual fundraiser celebrating the end of the golf season. The First Tee Classic is a four-man scramble over 18 holes. The event includes lunch and reception. Prizes are available for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. There is also a $25,000 Hole-in-One competition. A four-person team will cost $800. Sponsorships are also available. This event is tax-deductible.
Celebrating 15 Years in Central Arkansas! The First Tee of Central Arkansas opened in June of 2001. Our facility was built by the Stephens family as a gift to the youth of Central Arkansas. Today, we operate what has been called “The Finest First Tee Facility in the Country,” with two nine-hole public golf courses, open to young and old, as well as a 16-acre practice facility. 2016 marks 15 years in Central Arkansas and throughout the year we will be celebrating this wonderful accomplishment. We plan to end the year with a Nine Core Values Awards Luncheon so mark your calendars now for December 7, 2016. The luncheon will allow The First Tee to honor participants over the past 15 years who exemplify the Nine Core Values. The luncheon will also provide us with the opportunity to say “THANK YOU” to individuals and organizations who have helped The First Tee of Central Arkansas along the way. We are so excited about 2016 and all the wonderful things it has in store for The First Tee of Central Arkansas and our participants.
Our Partners City of Little Rock State of Arkansas Deltic Timber Dillard’s Arkansas Electric Cooperative Inc. Arkansas Hospital Assoc. Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce CenturyLink Drennan Insurance Marketing, Inc. Guy S. Gardner Revocable Trust Mitchell Williams Nucor-Yamato Steel Stephens, Inc. Steven Anthony Rick & Pam Blank Joe & Mimi Hurst Jack T. Stephens Spine & Neuroscience Institute O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC